March 14, 2001

WKU Forensics Team Wins Third Straight International Title

Bowling Green, Ky. - For the third consecutive year, Western Kentucky University's forensics team is the best in the world.

The William E. Bivin Forensic Society won the International Forensic Association title Tuesday in Prague, Czech Republic. Three Western students also won international championships in individual events.

Winning international titles were:

Amy Jones, a Morehead senior, persuasive speaking.

David Laing, a Louisville junior, impromptu speaking.

Drew Allen, a freshman from Brentwood, Tenn., poetry.

The third straight world title surprised forensics director Judy Woodring.
"I wasn't sure we could pull it out, especially with four novices on the international team," she said. "I shouldn't have worried as one of those novices won the international title in poetry."

Western also won by its largest margin, 28 points over second-place Mount San Antonio College of Walnut, Calif. Ohio State University was third. Western won by 27 points last year and by three points in 1999.

The team doesn't have long to celebrate the international championship. This weekend the team travels to Colorado for the Delta Sigma Rho National Tournament, which Western has won for two straight years.

Next month, Western will host the National Forensics Association tournament. The nation's largest forensics event is scheduled for April 19-23 in Bowling Green.

Other individual results from the International Forensics Association tournament are:
Amy Jones, a Morehead senior, second in informative speaking; fifth in prose; seventh in after-dinner speaking.

Drew Allen, a freshman from Brentwood, Tenn., third in duo interpretation with Keith Blaser.

Keith Blaser, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., second in persuasive speaking; third in duo interpretation with Drew Allen.

Phillip Wininger, a Bowling Green junior, fourth in impromptu speaking; third in parliamentary debate; fourth in informative speaking.

Sarah Sparks, a Morehead junior, fifth in impromptu speaking; quarterfinals in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

David Laing, a Louisville junior, quarterfinals in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Corey Alderdice, a Water Valley freshman, semifinals in impromptu speaking.

Katie Tyree, a freshman from Plymouth, Ind., fourth in poetry.

Margaret Au, a freshman from Evansville, Ind., fifth in poetry.

David Wilkins, a Bardstown junior, third in parliamentary debate.

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